One of a million amazing things about this dog was his ability to attract other animals. I've never seen anything like it. Wild horses, sheep, bears, coyotes, birds, moose and deer. They seemed to follow us, watch us. They would get as close as possible and he just sat and watched.
Here's some actual ptarmigan at Ptarmigan Cirque. He took me right to the birds, then just walked with them until we left for home...
A bear took our pack at Birdwood lake, just walked up and stole our stuff. No food, just a jacket, water bottle, camera and of course car keys. D was so calm, a bear fifteen feet away and nothing, not even the slightest dog reaction. We walked out through Burstall Pass, hitched a ride home, walked back the next day and found our munched pack the next lake up, the camera still intact with the last picture before the bear walked of with it.
Other dogs just confused him. He was nice and they were mean. He liked it when we were alone, no other people. He liked walking long hours and only when we were safe, far away, surrounded in mountains could he let himself go.
As much as I want him with me forever I think I owe it to him to take his ashes to one of our hide outs. He needs to be with the creatures that know him in a place he loves.